Saira Banu makes her debut on Instagram on Dilip Kumar’s death anniversary

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Veteran actress Saira Banu has made her Instagram debut, sharing a heartfelt picture in remembrance of her late husband, Dilip Kumar.

Saira Banu’s gesture invites us to reflect on Dilip Kumar’s monumental talent and enduring legacy in the film industry, as he is considered one of India’s greatest actors ever. In her note, she beautifully embraced the digital realm with the legend’s memory for generations.

Saira took to Instagram with one of her husband’s favorite Urdu couplets, “Sukoon-e-dil ke liye kuch toh ehtemaam karoon, zara nazar jo miley phir unhe salaam karoon, mujhe toh hosh nahin aap mashwara dijiyey kaha se chedoon fasana kahan tamaam karoon.” She goes on to add, “I am writing this note on the 7^th of July to especially express my gratitude to the overwhelming multitude of caring well-wishers and dearest friends from the world over who have so tremendously swept me off my feet till today with their everlasting remembrance, love, and respect for my Kohinoor Dilip Kumar Sahib.”

Recalling the loss of her “Sahib” as she fondly called him, Saira Banu recites another Urdu couplet, “Uth Apni Jumbish-E-Mizgaan Se Taaza Kar De Hayaat, Keh Ruka Ruka Qadam-E-Qayenaat Hain Saqi (My loved one is in slumber so my entire world is still – I implore him to stir awake so that the world comes alive again with his movement of waking up).

“Till this day, I feel he is with me, and no matter what, we will still walk the path of life together – hand in hand – one in our thoughts and being until the end of time. Dilip Sahib has been that iconic guiding light for my life and all those generations who have stepped forward in their lives, exemplified by his gracious presence and personality. He has been the greatest actor ever and a great human being, a true picture of humility with dignity,” she has added.

Saira Banu’s and Dilip Kumar’s on-screen and off-screen chemistry has always melted their fans. Films starring Saira Banu and her actor-husband Dilip Kumar, like Gopi and Bairaag, Sagina Mahato and Duniya, have their loving audiences. The couple emerged as the ultimate talk of the town as Saira always stood like a rock beside him through all the ups and downs of life, and they had spent five beautiful decades of marriage. Fans and supporters have always looked up to their 55 years of marriage as an eternal love story and have showered their love and blessings. Satyajit Ray had also said that Dilip Kumar was “the ultimate method actor” despite not working with him.

Signing off on her debut Instagram post, Saira Banu concludes, “On ‘Instagram’ I would like to share his life, his thoughts and vision as also his dedication and commitments not only to the ‘Film Industry’ of which he has been the ‘Ultimate Actor,’ but various other activities towards society and well-being of the world at large.”

Over the years, Dilip Kumar has contributed to Hindi cinema immensely by giving hit movies like Naya Daur, Madhumati, Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga Jumna, Ram Aur Shyam and Saudagar between his acting debut in 1944 with Jwar Bhata and his last release in Qila (1998). He went on to receive the coveted Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke award for his contribution to Cinema.

After making her Instagram debut, Saira Banu shared another throwback picture of Dilip Kumar. She states, “Sahib preferably always wore white in this Jodhpuri collar kind of “Bush” shirts… I requested and got around him to please wear a few color shades In his shirts… here he is laughing at me saying look! I am wearing a color… a yellow that you like Saira… but on condition that you promise to wear fluffy Organdy sarees that make you seem more substantial! Not salwar kameez that makes me want to send you to school again!”

Saira Banu herself was known as a ‘Beauty Queen’ among heroines and had made a smash-hit debut with Junglee (1961). Her major films include Shagird, Purab Aur Pacchim, Victoria No. 203, Hera Pheri (1976) and others.